Libya Mission (2): I guess this letter writer thinks you can stop dictators from torturing and killing their own people by throwing flowers, right?“…. We have been told it had to be done for humanitarian and compassionate reasons.–And so, after a hundred days of bombing I wonder, are the humanitarian bombs used to eradicate Gaddafi, and the compassionate bombs used to help the rebels, depending on how you find out which groups are civilians or rebels?–It is all quite confusing! ….”

No more airport lounge privileges for YOU in Winnipeg, CF member. “When the new Winnipeg airport terminal opens this fall, members of the military will be left high and dry when it comes to complimentary access to a pre-boarding lounge. In the current terminal at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, members of the military and their families awaiting flights are granted free access to the Palliser Travel Lounge, which is located past the central security checkpoint. …. “At this point there’s no plan to have a lounge with the same format,” said Winnipeg Airports Authority spokeswoman Christine Alongi. “Certainly if there was a party that wanted to approach us and create that sort of business opportunity, there’s definitely an interest.” ….”

Columnist: PM’s latest messaging not militaristic, just distracting.“…. Defence and foreign affairs analysts reject the notion that Mr. Harper is laying the groundwork for a new “Harper Doctrine” or that the government is engaging in a “new militarism.” Instead, they argue that the Prime Minister is participating in traditional politicking. He is trying to buttress his poll numbers going into the traditional summer doldrums, they say, by throwing some read meat to the Conservative base. And he is attempting to broadcast pro-military messages to distract the public from looming budget deficit cutbacks and a pullout from Afghanistan, both of which are threatening to actually reduce Canada’s military presence at home and on the world stage ….”